Venous needle dislodgement sensor

• US 20060130591A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Perkins Corban Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Perkins Corban Enterprises
• Inventors: Perkins, Lenora Ellen
• Application Number:
  US11/108,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/800
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3655 Arterio-venous shunts or fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3656 Monitoring patency or flow at connection sites; Detecting disconnections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means

Abstract

A dislodgement sensor for use with dialysis and other blood transfusion equipment that detects when a venous needle is dislodged from a patient. The sensor includes a photosensor attached to the venous needle or to tubing attached to the venous needle, an opaque cover placed over but not attached to the photosensor, and a signal line from the photosensor to the equipment. If the venous needle is dislodged, the photosensor is withdrawn from beneath the opaque cover, exposing the photosensor to light, which causes the photosensor to send a signal to the equipment indicating that the venous needle has been dislodged. Also, a method of using such a sensor.

Claims

1. A dislodgement sensor for use with dialysis and other blood transfusion equipment that detects when a venous needle is dislodged from a patient, the sensor including a photosensor that is exposed to light when the venous needle is dislodged, thereby signaling the equipment to turn off.

2. A dislodgement sensor for use with dialysis and other blood transfusion equipment that detects when a venous needle is dislodged from a patient, comprising:

a photosensor attached to the venous needle or to tubing attached to the venous needle;

an opaque cover placed over but not attached to the photosensor; and

a signal line from the photosensor to the equipment;

wherein if the venous needle is dislodged, the photosensor is withdrawn from beneath the opaque cover, exposing the photosensor to light, which causes the photosensor to send a signal to the equipment indicating that the venous needle has been dislodged.

3. The sensor as in claim 2, wherein the photosensor is attached to the venous needle or the tubing with a tubing clip.

4. The sensor as in claim 3, wherein the tubing clip is an EZ twist lock.

5. The sensor as in claim 2, wherein the opaque cover is a gauze pad that is taped to the patient but not to the photosensor.

6. The sensor as in claim 2, wherein the signal line follows the tubing from the equipment, past venous fistula needle tubing, and to the patient.

7. The sensor as in claim 2, further comprising circuitry that turns off the equipment upon receiving the signal indicating that the venous needle has been dislodged.

8. A method of detecting when a venous needle is dislodged from a patient during dialysis or other blood transfusion, comprising the steps of:

inserting arterial and venous needles connected by tubing to dialysis or other blood transfusion equipment;

attaching a photosensor to the venous needle or to the tubing attached to the venous needle, with a signal line running from the photosensor to the equipment; and

securing an opaque cover over but not attached to the photosensor;

wherein a signal line transmits a signal from the photosensor to the equipment, and wherein if the venous needle is dislodged, the photosensor is withdrawn from beneath the opaque cover, exposing the photosensor to light, which causes the photosensor to send a signal to the equipment indicating that the venous needle has been dislodged.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the photosensor is attached to the venous needle or the tubing with a tubing clip.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the tubing clip is an EZ twist lock.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the opaque cover is a gauze pad that is taped to the patient but not to the photosensor.

12. The method as in claim 8, wherein the signal line follows the tubing from the equipment, past venous fistula needle tubing, and to the patient.